Hello gang, I am in process of putting together a ground station for AMSAT use and I have acquired a Yaesu 5400 rotor system with a pair of older Cushcraft antennas. I now need a controller box to go between the PC and the rotors. I checked the price of the GS-232B by Yaesu and nearly had heart failure! Then I looked at the schematic and was appalled! Surely someone has come up with a better/cheaper solution. Searching the web only produced a few build from scratch articles and a fellow from Europe selling a board. Isn't there some other alternative available off the shelf and reasonably priced?
Michael Baker K7DD k7ddmjb@qwest.net
Hi Michael, not 100% sure if its compatable but works fab here with my rotators, try a google for FODTRACK. 100% homebrew works really well. regards Gus M0IKB ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Baker" k7ddmjb@qwest.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 5:52 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Rotor Controller Info Needed.
Hello gang, I am in process of putting together a ground station for AMSAT use and I have acquired a Yaesu 5400 rotor system with a pair of older Cushcraft antennas. I now need a controller box to go between the PC and the rotors. I checked the price of the GS-232B by Yaesu and nearly had heart failure! Then I looked at the schematic and was appalled! Surely someone has come up with a better/cheaper solution. Searching the web only produced a few build from scratch articles and a fellow from Europe selling a board. Isn't there some other alternative available off the shelf and reasonably priced?
Michael Baker K7DD k7ddmjb@qwest.net
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Michael:
The FODTrack boards are available from Far Circuits http://www.farcircuits.net , or I might still have an extra one left at home from the custom batch I had them run off, before they started offering them. I also have one of the ARRL Sat Tracker 688 boards, instruction/driver CD, and all necessary parts except a case. I probably could let that go, just gotta figure out for how much $$....
73,
George, KA3HSW
Angus angus@young5769.freeserve.co.uk wrote: Hi Michael, not 100% sure if its compatable but works fab here with my rotators, try a google for FODTRACK. 100% homebrew works really well. regards Gus M0IKB ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Baker" To: Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 5:52 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Rotor Controller Info Needed.
Hello gang, I am in process of putting together a ground station for AMSAT use and I have acquired a Yaesu 5400 rotor system with a pair of older Cushcraft antennas. I now need a controller box to go between the PC and the rotors. I checked the price of the GS-232B by Yaesu and nearly had heart failure! Then I looked at the schematic and was appalled! Surely someone has come up with a better/cheaper solution. Searching the web only produced a few build from scratch articles and a fellow from Europe selling a board. Isn't there some other alternative available off the shelf and reasonably priced?
Michael Baker K7DD k7ddmjb@qwest.net
Michael,
Funny you should ask that. AMSAT carries the LVB tracker: http://wa4sxm.googlepages.com/home It uses the same protocol, can be configured for either USB or serial port, and goes assembled for around $200, and can be had in various versions of completion for less. Unfortunately the AMSAT web store is down, so I can't give you the specifics, but no doubt somebody here will. It is a great unit. Highly recommended. Note that the assembly process is a volunteer operation, so availability depends on that.
Alan WA4SCA
participants (4)
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Alan P. Biddle -
Angus -
George Henry -
Michael Baker